"Boilermakers for Everyone!"

When I grow up I want to be just like Bill Scherer:

Broward Circuit Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld spent the day Tuesday setting ground rules for a trial that was scheduled to begin with jury selection Thursday.

But Scherer told the Daily Business Review after court adjourned that a settlement had been reached and he was celebrating at a bar with boilermakers.

Boilermakers?

I haven't had one of those since college, but on the other hand if I just made $50 million for my firm I'd be drinking boilermakers, haymakers,  widowmakers, salt and pepper shakers, you name it -- Bill's buying.

$170 Million Probably Meant the Bank Had Some Good Defenses!

Let's see, if the investors were seeking $186 million in losses (plus the potential for punis) and TD Bank settled for $170 million, I'm guessing the defense case for the bank didn't look too good:

The settlement, reached last week by the investors' Fort Lauderdale lawyer William Scherer, breaks down this way: TD agreed to pay the investors $100 million for their losses and $20 million in interest on their original claim amount. Their attorney's law firm, Conrad Scherer, will receive $50 million in fees.

Scherer is receiving $50 million?

It took a while, but Rothstein finally did something good for his fellow lawyers.

Attention All Judges in Broward County Courthouse: Bill Scherer is Now Your Landlord!

You gotta love Broward -- how comical is this:

[C]ommissioners will vote Tuesday to lease about 200 parking spaces from a prominent Fort Lauderdale attorney, Bill Scherer, for courthouse parking. The spaces are in the county's own garage, where the jurors park. But the county in 1992 leased the spaces to Scherer and a group of developers, for $107,500 a year. The county will pay more than twice that, $277,536 a year, to use them now.

Wait a minute -- so property of the county, now leased by Bill, will be leased back to the county at more than double what Bill pays for them?

No wonder Bill is so successful.

Of Course Jamie-Lynn Sigler Is Somehow Involved With Rothstein!

Bob Norman breaks it down here, but it involves allegations in the Rothstein investor suit being handled by Bill Scherer, in which a few of the defendants have counterclaimed:

To drum up cash meant to help bail out their millions, the suit claims that Von Allmen worked hand in hand with Clockwork Capital Advisors, a hedge fund run by A.J. Discala, a Hollywood agent and dubious businessman whose claim to fame was having married Jamie-Lynn Sigler, aka Meadow Soprano. The idea was to turn clockwork into the new Banyan, the monster hedge fund run by George Levin that financed much of Rothstein's scheme.

Von Allmen also formed Delaware companies Razorback Funding and D3 Capital Club as vehicles to raise money from unwitting investors into Rothstein's scheme. The suit claims more than 23 investors sank money into the venture. 

Ok, A.J. Discala is a lout of the highest order, so I'm not surprised by this.

But the bigger question is who gets to depose Jamie-Lynn?

(Don't tell me fancy-pants Eliot Lauer, that will just make a bad situation worse).

Rothstein Scorecard -- Who Represents Who?

Well I hope everyone had a warm, loving, and peaceful Thanksgiving, and is now fighting over deals at Walmart -- that HDTV screen will only be on sale for two more hours!

I wonder if any meaning can be derived by looking at who is representing who in the Rothstein saga.

We know Scottie has loyal Marc Nurik, who recently has been cracking jokes and alternately acting as Scott's public psychologist:

"He did something that, when you think about it, is kind of extraordinary. He goes away to a country that has no extradition treaty with the U.S., reportedly, allegedly has a lot of money at his disposal, and chooses to come back and deal with this … I think because beneath it all, and not withstanding all the things that have been said about him, I believe that he is truly a decent human being, not withstanding flaws. I really do believe he did it out of, a true decent emotion to try to deal with this.''

Again, I have no problem with a public rehabilitation strategy. I just think, in the absence of other positive facts, this strategy is way too premature.

Marc would have you believe at the same time he is denying that Scott is cooperating with the feds and singing like a bird, Rothstein nonetheless has returned to "make everything right." How does that square up?

Rothstein's bankruptcy lawyer is Hinshaw's Michael D. Seese.

I agree with Bob Norman that Bill Scherer's amended complaint is an interesting read but a bit of a mess.

It is 289 pages long and asserts 245 counts. To be honest it reads like a placeholder, an effort to "occupy the field" and get in front of the other civil suits coming down the pike. Somebody at some point definitely needs to edit that thing.

Let's see -- Bob Josefsberg is representing Banyon COO Frank J. Preve -- what could that mean?

Bruce Lehr is representing Big Stu, Fred Haddad has Russ Adler's back, and Neal Sonnett is representing Grant Smith.

Russ even recently appeared in court on behalf of former Judge Seidlin.

It's a small town, huh?

SFL Friday -- "Mad Men" And Scott Rothstein

To paraphrase Mark Harris, it seems that Scott Rothstein continues to rule our world.

Here's the latest:

1. Bill Scherer sues the firm he used to retain for collection matters.

Marc Nurik's reaction -- "This is the first I'm hearing of it."

(Check out the email Bob Norman dredged up).

2. Judge Stettin says October was a banner month for the firm, with hundreds of millions moving through RRA accounts.

3. RRA is down from 167 employees to 14.

Who are the lucky ones, those that are gone or those that are still there?

(I hope Brianne Strohsahl has found a nice new home).

4. Romina Sifuentes has not yet "friended" me on Facebook.

Is that any way to start a relationship?

But that's ok.

I've decided to employ these dating tips from 'Mad Men' (note, I am not making this up):

Keep heavy (borderline uncomfortable) eye contact. Speak when only there is little alternative. Learn to say things that are vague. Answer a woman’s question with a question. Make every action deliberate and noticeable, almost in slow motion. Talk in short sentences. Don’t say too much. Don’t give away too much.

Right -- there's no better way to a woman's heart than to act like a brooding, moody psychotic.

Cigar lovers, take note -- Tatuaje, a brand rolled here in Miami and named the hottest cigar in America, has settled its trademark suit with the makers of Montecristo over its use of the fleur-de-lis.

The suit was pending before Judge Moreno and you can read the complaint here.

Speaking of which, another day another $300 million South Florida tobacco verdict.

Well kids, it's that time again and I have some afternoon windsurfing ahead of me to kickstart my weekend.

Remember kids to put a little alcohol on your lips, keep your mishpucha away from this Rabbi, and if you are collecting disability benefits stay the hail off of TV.

Money never sleeps KIDZZZZ

SFL Friday -- Free Scott Rothstein!!

Brian Tannebaum points out that there's not a single lawyer in South Florida who has stepped up to vouch for the character or personal integrity of Scott Rothstein.

Think about that.

Amid all the near-constant chatter in the South Florida legal community I've not bumped into a single judge or lawyer (let alone a client) who has said -- "hold on, let's see what the evidence is. That's not the Scotty I know."

Even Bill Scherer, who just a year ago was retaining Scott's firm to be his lawyer ("[t]hat should tell you something") is now assembling lawsuits on behalf of investors.

And this is absolutely the wrong time to be a lawyer in trouble in South Florida. Between judicial fundraisers, receptions, seminars, lunches, bar events, picnics etc. there is virtually no time to do anything other than continually meet with the same judges and lawyers and discuss -- what else -- Scott Rothstein.

When I wrote back in September about Scott's personal obsession with associate facial hair, I suspected the reason he offered for this bizarre management characteristic to be contrived and oh too convenient -- an "unnamed retired federal judge" who appeared to be a prop in some apocryphal Scott Rothstein anecdote about how obsessing over associate hair growth is a good thing:

Rothstein, who teaches law at Nova Southeastern University, recalls the first time he saw style become an issue in court.

"I'll never forget walking into the courtroom of a now-retired federal judge here in South Florida. And opposing counsel came in and the first words out of the judge's mouth were to ask the other attorney why his shoes were so scuffed and dirty. It's for reasons like that that I `politely terrorize' the lawyers in my firm.''

What the hail is he talking about? What judge could this possibly be? You're lucky to even be in front of a federal judge for a hearing, and yet this judge is going to spend that time discussing the cleanliness level of a lawyer's shoes? I suppose it's possible but it seems pretty unlikely.

Of course now everybody has pretty much concluded Scott was a serial albeit creative liar.

Oh hail I'm shutting things down and hitting the surf, kids. In honor of Scott I am bringing seventeen expensive waterproof watches, the usual surveillance equipment I always go windsurfing with, and something special -- a solid gold ankle-holstered Derringer, the kind Burl Ives wore in that great noir Western, Day of the Outlaw.

Perhaps Big Burl is where Scott got the inspiration?

(Mine is strictly for recreational use only btw -- if you use it right.)

In the meantime folks, eat lots of cupcakes but still watch your diet and get lots of rest, and put your hands on something exceptionally worthwhile -- life is too precious to waste.

Have a nice weekend everybody!

Bill Scherer Discovers Something About Republicans.

Hint: If they are in Tallahassee, they do all sorts of weird things to trial lawyers.

CORRECTION:

Oops! I am advised that one of the gentlemen pictured above is not in fact prominent Broward trial lawyer and GOP macher Bill Scherer.

My apologies.

Scott Rothstein Gets the Love.

I don't know who Scott's publicist is, but this Sun-Sentinel article is proof-positive that he or she should get an immediate raise:

Columnist Michael Mayo provides some insight into lawyer Scott Rothstein, who's become influential in Broward -- and beyond.

Here's Mayo's take:

I'll turn to the Yiddish of my grandparents to describe Scott Rothstein, a fast-talking, fast-rising Fort Lauderdale lawyer, businessman and political juggernaut.

In a town that has long been dominated by good ol' boys, the Bronx-born Rothstein has become a macher.

That means big shot. With a persona that's part Joe Pesci wiseguy, part H. Wayne Huizenga entrepreneur and part Imelda Marcos spender, Rothstein, 46, has roared from relative obscurity to the top of the local power structure in astonishing time.

"I'm going to ride this wave as long as God allows," Rothstein said Saturday.

In the past few days alone, Rothstein had a nice chat with his friend John McCain ("He asked how all our local races went; that's the kind of guy he is"); did some business in New York; held a fundraiser in Miami for rising Republican star Bobby Jindal (the Louisiana governor who might run for president in 2012); spent a day screening judicial applicants for Florida's 4th District Court of Appeal; eulogized one of his best friends, who was killed in a motorcycle wreck; and searched for a liver for a friend who needs a transplant.

Rothstein has become a heavy-hitter for the Republican Party, contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars this year. He was a major McCain supporter and fundraiser, and he was an early backer of Gov. Charlie Crist, incoming Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater and Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti.

He's a budding philanthropist, recently donating $1 million to Holy Cross Hospital.

His law firm and business empire keep growing, even as the economy slides. While others struggle, Rothstein keeps spending lavishly.

"Whatever he's doing, it's working," said Fort Lauderdale lawyer Bill Scherer, longtime alpha dog in local Republican circles. "I chose his firm as my lawyers, to represent me in some attorney-fee litigation cases. That should tell you something."

Scott, the press is well-deserved. Congrats buddy.

As for big ole' Bill Scherer, that last comment really does tell me something. In a completely unrelated development, consider this story.